14 Excellence Awardee (Finalist) placings ahead of NZ Law Awards

Russell McVeagh has been named an Excellence Awardee (Finalist) across multiple award categories ahead of this year's NZ Law Awards, including for Large Law Firm of the Year, Employer of Choice (>100 lawyers), and Diversity and Inclusion Initiative of the Year.

Partner and Russell McVeagh Board Chair Allison Arthur-Young has also been recognised as an Excellence Awardee in the Law Firm Leader of the Year (>100 lawyers) category and Competition partner Bradley Aburn is up for the Young Private Practice Lawyer of the Year Award.

The firm's role advising on many of Aotearoa New Zealand's most significant and innovative transactions over the past year was acknowledged with 9 deals making in onto the shortlist across five Deal of the Year categories including:

Equity Market Deal of the Year:

• $2.2 billion Recapitalisation of Air New Zealand, where Corporate partner David Raudkivi acted for the underwriters of Air New Zealand's $1.2 billion capital raise;

• Heartland Group Holdings $200 million equity raise, where Corporate partner Ian Beaumont acted for the underwriters;

• Ryman Healthcare $902.4 million capital raise, where Corporate partner David Raudkivi acted for the underwriters.

Mid-market Deal of the Year:  

• Sale of Trustpower retail business to Mercury Energy, led by Corporate partner Joe Windmeyer;

• Fisher Funds on its purchase of Kiwi Wealth for NZ$310 million, led by Corporate partner Dan Jones.

Insolvency and Restructuring Deal of the Year:

• Financial restructuring and recapitalisation of Kurow Duntroon Irrigation Co, led by Litigation partner Polly Pope.

Debt Market Deal of the Year:

• Syndicated funding for Allegro’s acquisition of fuel retailer Gull NZ, led by Banking and Finance partner David Weavers.

M&A Deal of the Year:

• Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board’s acquisition of 70% stake of Spark NZ’s passive mobile infrastructure business, debt financiers advised by Banking and Finance partner David Weavers;

• Sale of One NZ (formerly Vodafone) Passive Mobile Towers to InfraRed and Northleaf Capital Partners, debt financiers advised by Banking and Finance partner Jesse Fairley.

This follows on from Russell McVeagh being named earlier this year as New Zealand Law Firm of the Year at the Chambers Asia-Pacific Awards 2023 and a 5-Star Employer of Choice 2023 by NZ Lawyer.

The NZ Law Awards bring together industry leaders to celebrate excellence in the legal profession, recognising the outstanding achievements of firms, in-house legal teams and other industry professionals. 

A number of our clients have also been recognised in the shortlist for In-House Awards, and we wish them and all of the other Excellence Awardees the best of luck ahead of the Awards Ceremony at The Cordis in Auckland on 23 November.

A full list of Excellence Awardees and Award details is available here.